Electrodes for increased wettability

Abstract

An electrode stack is described. The electrode stack may include an anode electrode having an anode current collector, and an anode active material disposed on the anode current collector. The anode electrode may define one or more first apertures through the anode electrode. The electrode stack may also include a cathode electrode having a cathode current collector, and a cathode active material disposed on the cathode current collector. The cathode electrode may define one or more second apertures through the cathode electrode.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electrode stack comprising:
 an anode electrode including:
 an anode current collector; and 
 an anode active material disposed on the anode current collector, wherein the anode electrode defines a plurality of first apertures through the anode electrode; and 
 
 a cathode electrode including:
 a cathode current collector; and 
 a cathode active material disposed on the cathode current collector, wherein the cathode electrode defines a plurality of second apertures through the cathode electrode, wherein; 
 the anode electrode and the cathode electrode are each characterized by a longitudinal body section and a lateral body section extending from and normal to the longitudinal body section; and 
 at least one of the first apertures and at least one of the second apertures are defined within the respective lateral body sections and the respective longitudinal body sections. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The electrode stack of  claim 1 , wherein each first aperture of the first apertures is axially aligned with a second aperture of the one or more second apertures. 
     
     
       3. The electrode stack of  claim 1 , wherein each first aperture of the first apertures is characterized by a first diameter, wherein each second aperture of the second apertures is characterized by a second diameter, and wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter. 
     
     
       4. The electrode stack of  claim 1 , further comprising a separator positioned between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. 
     
     
       5. The electrode stack of  claim 4 , wherein the separator forms a physical barrier between each first aperture of the first apertures and each second aperture of the second apertures. 
     
     
       6. The electrode stack of  claim 1 , wherein intersections of each longitudinal body section and each lateral body section defines an interior corner. 
     
     
       7. The electrode stack of  claim 6 , wherein the anode electrode and the cathode electrode each define the interior corner as an arcuate shape recessed from a planar intersection of a sidewall of the lateral body section and a sidewall of the longitudinal body section. 
     
     
       8. The electrode stack of  claim 1  wherein a subset of the plurality of first apertures are distributed parallel to a centerline through the longitudinal body section of the anode electrode, and wherein the subset of the plurality of first apertures are distributed parallel to a centerline through the lateral body section of the anode electrode. 
     
     
       9. The electrode stack of  claim 1 , wherein each first aperture of the first apertures extends radially inward of an associated second aperture of the second apertures towards a centerline through each associated pair of apertures. 
     
     
       10. The electrode stack of  claim 1 , wherein the anode active material is a first anode active material disposed on a first side of the anode current collector, and wherein the anode electrode further comprises a second anode active material disposed on a second side of the anode current collector. 
     
     
       11. The electrode stack of  claim 10 , wherein the first apertures extend fully through the first anode active material, the anode current collector, and the second anode active material. 
     
     
       12. The electrode stack of  claim 10 , wherein at least one aperture of the first apertures extends through the first anode active material and the anode current collector without extending into the second anode active material.